AS CRICKET fever grips the nation, workers are bursting out in song to support the England team.

Captain Michael Vaughan has urged the entire country to down tools and join in a rousing rendition of the hymn Jerusalem as his team takes to the field for tomorrow's make-or-break fifth Test match.

Among the cricket-mad crooners will be a group of tuneful construction workers in York.

The contractors, from Yorkshire-based firm C Spencer, are busy building an extension to the control centre at York Railway Station, but at 10.25am tomorrow work will come to a halt as Blake's inspiring words reverberate around the site.

Site engineer Dan Stainback said: "The whole country gets behind the team for the Ashes, and as cricket fans we thought we should do our bit to show our support."

Jerusalem, which featured in the Top 20 of the BBC's Songs Of Praise hunt for Britain's favourite hymn, has accompanied the team on to the pitch since 2003.

"The backing of the country is like having a 12th player on the field," said Vaughan. "The thought of having the whole country singing a song as emotive as Jerusalem is something that will get the boys stirred up just as we come onto the field."

Kevin Peake, of npower, said: "Jerusalem has always been a fixture in the grounds prior to the game to excite the crowds, but we thought that uniting the country behind the team by a national singing of it would be a perfect start to this crucial npower Ashes Test match."

There's just one problem for Dan and his chorus - tough health and safety regulations mean they won't be able to listen to radio or TV coverage of the match while they work.

Happily, a solution is at hand. Dan said: "We'll be all right because the security guards have agreed to shout up and let us know whenever a wicket falls."

Channel 4 will play the hymn live from the Oval at 10.25am tomorrow.

:: JERUSALEM

And did those feet in ancient time

Walk upon England's mountains green?

And was the holy lamb of God

On England's pleasant pastures seen?

And did the countenance divine

Shine forth upon our clouded hills?

And was Jerusalem builded here

Amongst those dark satanic mills?

Bring me my bow of burning gold:

Bring me my arrows of desire:

Bring me my spear! O clouds unfold!

Bring me my chariot of fire

I shall not cease from mental fight

Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand

Till we have built Jerusalem

In England's green and pleasant land

Updated: 10:10 Wednesday, September 07, 2005